frigate hms fox under captain pu ##lten ##ey malcolm for the final voyage to macau . the convoy arrived without incident on 13 december 1797 , although the crews had been substantially weakened by tropical illnesses . = = = reconnaissance of mani ##lla = = = with his convoy safely at anchor in macau and the china fleet several weeks from sailing , cooke decided to rec ##on ##no ##it ##re manila and make observations on the port and the spanish squadron based there . as an added motivation , rumours in macau suggested that the annual manila gall ##eon was due to arrive . this ship brought up to two million spanish silver dollars from ac ##ap ##ul ##co across the pacific ocean stopping at guam
frigate hms fox under captain pulteney malcolm for the final voyage to macau. the convoy arrived without incident on 13 december 1797, although the crews had been substantially weakened by tropical illnesses. = = = reconnaissance of manilla = = = with his convoy safely at anchor in macau and the china fleet several weeks from sailing, cooke decided to reconnoitre manila and make observations on the port and the spanish squadron based there. as an added motivation, rumours in macau suggested that the annual manila galleon was due to arrive. this ship brought up to two million spanish silver dollars from acapulco across the pacific ocean stopping at guam